Editing Dew point (section)

{{Short description|Temperature below which condensation occurs}}
{{About|the meteorological dew point|the petroleum term|Hydrocarbon dew point}}
{{humidity}}
The '''dew point''' is the temperature the air needs to be cooled to (at constant pressure) in order to produce a [[relative humidity]] of 100%.<ref>{{Cite web |last=US Department of Commerce |first=NOAA |title=Dew Point vs Humidity |url=https://www.weather.gov/arx/why_dewpoint_vs_humidity |access-date=2025-02-12 |website=www.weather.gov |language=EN-US}}</ref> This temperature depends on the pressure and water content of the air. When the air at a temperature above the dewpoint is cooled, its [[moisture]] capacity is reduced and airborne water vapor will [[Condensation|condense]] to form liquid water known as [[dew]].<ref>{{cite web|url = https://thecraftsmanblog.com/how-to-eliminate-window-condensation/|title = How To: Eliminate Window Condensation| date=15 November 2021 }}</ref> When this occurs through the air's contact with a colder surface, dew will form on that surface.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://forecast.weather.gov/glossary.php?word=dew+point|work = Glossary – NOAA's National Weather Service|title = Dew Point|date = 25 June 2009}}</ref> 

The dew point is affected by the air's [[humidity]]. The more moisture the air contains, the higher its dew point.<ref name="WallaceHobbs2006">{{cite book|author1=John M. Wallace|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HZ2wNtDOU0oC&pg=PA83|title=Atmospheric Science: An Introductory Survey|author2=Peter V. Hobbs|date=24 March 2006|publisher=Academic Press|isbn=978-0-08-049953-6|pages=83–}}</ref>

When the temperature is below the freezing point of water, the dew point is called the '''frost point''', as [[frost]] is formed via [[deposition (phase transition)|deposition]] rather than condensation.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://forecast.weather.gov/glossary.php?word=dew+point |work =Glossary – NOAA's National Weather Service |title = Frost Point |date = 25 June 2009}}</ref>
In liquids, the analog to the dew point is the [[cloud point]].